Go charge at windmills if you think Spain has run out of energy. The reigning champions still possess the power to blow defensive walls apart. Their little midfield cannon, Andres Iniesta, can lob at will. Barcelona's Xavi, can spot the ball with illumination (is he not a Robert Downey Jr. doppelganger?) And Fernando Torresmight have found his mojo. Spain could be unstoppable. Woe to opponents. It finished off the Irish on Thursday. Bar owners in Poland are lamenting Ireland's exit. Stouts abandoned.

Gone are the relics of the Italian defensive system - score a quick goal and then build a 10-man defensive wall worthy of design employed by the Emperor Hadrian. Unlock the new exciting Italian way. Think bunga-bunga party at Berlusconi's villa; thrills and spills, plenty of play, action on the wings. It might not guarantee wins but it beats being negative.

England and France played to a low-scoring tie in a parallel to the stalemate of the Hundred Years' War between the nations. The Brits just love waiting for something to happen. Throwing caution to the wind has not been an English soccer trait. Not to say that the English won't progress from their group but one gets the feeling that unless the word "attack" is added to the playbook, the EXIT sign soon might be flashing. And they can sing "God Save the Queen" as they leave.

The Russians are coming. Unable to conquer the world through the grayness of Marxist-Leninism, the best alternative is to conquer through soccer. Hosting and then winning the World Cup in 2018 is the prize. Consider Euro 2012 as a warm-up for that event. No expense will be spared by Russia's oligarchy to build a team ruthless with ambition and drive. Watching the Russians demolish the Czechs and contain the Poles this week had an ominous nostalgia about it. There is new confidence in Russian soccer.

A Twitter feed tracked soccer media references to World War II. It wouldn't be Europe without it. Germany and Holland never really got along after the unpleasantness. They clashed Wednesday in Group B. The Germans burst the dike with a 2-1 win. Though not dead, the Dutch need other results to go their way in the last group game. They need Germany to do them a favor and beat Denmark. Ask nicely and they might ... forget it!

The Irish fans sang their anthem louder than anyone has ever sung an anthem. The Irish legions belted out the "Soldier's Song" so loudly that ripples ran on the River Liffey in Dublin. Playing in their first major tournament in 10 years, the Irish fans brought the craic and a catholic sense of fun to the proceedings, (that's catholic without the Vatican C). Too bad their players could not convert the ball into goals.

ESPN studio coverage has sparked with soccer culture clashes. America's Alexi Lalasisn't one to hold back in tackles. He took to task Germany's former captain-turned-media guy, Michael Ballack, in possession of a precise calm delivery. Redhead Lalas got ticked after Ballack announced the United States would never win anything. Later, he hacked Irish pundit Tommy Smyth to shreds over Ireland's dismal performance against Croatia. Derision flew into the old onion bag. The bickering continues.

Remember the German octopus cum oracle that saw the future during World Cup 2010? He died. Stepping up to the crystal ball as a replacement is a psychic raccoon. A zookeeper in England claims the beast has visions of England winning. Millions cry: I'll have what the raccoon is drinking! Never make predictions in soccer.

What to watch

Euro 2012 on ESPN

Portugal vs. Netherlands, 11.45 a.m. Sunday

Croatia vs. Spain, 11.45 a.m. Monday

Ukraine vs. England, 11.45 a.m. Tuesday

Alan Black is an author and journalist. Read his blog at blog.sfgate.com/soccer.